The former British rugby league player Ryan Tandy is facing the threat of a custodial sentence after being found guilty of lying to a New South Wales crime commission hearing.

Tandy, who had spells in Super League with Hull KR and Widnes and played for Ireland in the last World Cup in 2008, was found guilty of one count of knowingly giving false or misleading evidence and not guilty of two others arising from investigations into match-fixing allegations.

The guilty verdict was delivered at Downing Centre local court by the magistrate Claire Farnan, who ordered that Tandy be assessed for an intensive corrections order to establish whether he is suitable for a non-custodial sentence.

"I really don't think that I have any option but to impose some form of imprisonment," she said. "The authorities are pretty clear that imprisonment should be full time."

If he is deemed suitable for a non-custodial sentence, Tandy will most likely be given community service, electronic monitoring or a curfew. If he is deemed unsuitable, Tandy will be handed a prison sentence. He will be back in court on Friday 13 January, when his assessment will be considered and a sentence finalised.

The crime commission hearings were conducted as an extension of the investigation by the casino and racing investigation unit into suspicious betting activity on an NRL game between North Queensland and Canterbury at Townsville in August 2010.

Tandy, who played for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the match, had previously been found guilty of dishonestly attempting to obtain a financial advantage for others. He was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and fined A$4,000 (£2,600) on that charge but is appealing against the decision.

The match was the subject of an unusual plunge on a Cowboys penalty goal as the first scoring play. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment but lawyers for Tandy have requested a community service order or suspended sentence.

Tandy's contract with the Bulldogs was torn up in the wake of the scandal and he has been given a life ban from the NRL.